Travel to Hyderabad

Hyderabad Tourist Map

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Hyderabad Tourism

A perfect destination for an astute traveler, Hyderabad provides an enriching experience with a blend of enthralling structural masterpieces and rich cultural heritage. Explore the striking museums, temples, shimmering lakes, gardens, zoos and monuments and carry beautiful memories back home.

Anyone interested in walking back through a long 400 year old history of a land should definitely travel to Hyderabad.Known as the city of pearls, the history of Hyderabad inextricably bound with the rise and fall of various kingdoms. Legend has it that the City of Hyderabad, or Bhagyanagar (city of good fortune), was named by Quli Qutb Shah of the Qutb Shahi dynasty to appease his beloved, a danseuse named Bhagmati.He made the great edifice of Charminar, now one of the famed tourist attractions of Hyderabad where she once lived. When she embraced Islam and changed her name to Hyder Mahal, the city's name was changed to match it and has since been called Hyderabad, literally, "the city of Hyder."

Foremost among the historical sites in Hyderabad is the Charminar, a majestic structure famous for its architectural excellence. Situated in the heart of the city, it is an important landmark in Hyderabad. Another tourist attraction here is the Golconda Fort, a 16th century fortress situated on the western outskirts of Hyderabad city.

Known for its collection of diamonds, it is said that the famous Kohinoor originally belonged to Golconda. Ibrahim Qutb Shah built Husain Sagar Lake, a large artificial lake, 1562 AD and is the connecting point of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.In the lake on an island is a larger -than -life size statue of the Buddha. Boats take tourists across the lake to the island, on which the statue rests. There are many enthralling places in the vicinity to the capital of Andhra Pradesh with an array of travel attractions such as Warangal and Nagarjunasagar.

How to Reach Hyderabad
It is easy to reach Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh because it is well connected to other major cities and states by air, rail and road.

By Air

Hyderabad is well connected to national and international destinations with both national and international air carriers.

Hyderabad has two airports, the Rajiv Gandhi Terminal is the international airport and the N. T. Rama Rao Terminal is the domestic airport in the city. Flights to Hyderabad...

By Train

The Indian Railway, the world's largest railway under a single management, is divided into nine zones. Secunderabad, the twin-city of Hyderabad, is the headquarters of the South Central Zone. Hyderabad is the major point of arrival or departure. Hyderabad railway station is well connected to all the major Indian cities with a number of daily express trains from Hyderabad to the other cities of India. Trains to Hyderabad...

By Road

Hyderabad has a large bus terminus and is well connected to other cities in the state by a network of highways. The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses and buses belonging to other South Indian State Roadways also operate from here. The APSRTC also conducts a number of tours and excursions around the city.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) connects Hyderabad to every city, town and all except very small villages in the state. Express and luxury coaches are available for inter-city and interstate services. The APSRTC city control is at Ranigunj Depot at Secunderabad. Several private travel services run by tour operators/travel agents are also available.

Shopping in Hyderabad
Shopping in Hyderabad will be a fascinating experience for the tourist. Hyderabad is famous for its bidriware, lac bangles, banjara mirrors, ikat and kalamkari fabric, pochampalli and venkatgiri sarees, leather puppets, kondapalli toys, perfumes and pearls A major trading center for centuries, it has been influenced by cultures from all directions - largely because its former rulers controlled both of India's coastlines.

Basheerbagh-Abids-Nampally can be considered to be the most prominent shopping area in Hyderabad.Some of the biggest showrooms for jewellery, textiles, handicrafts, footwear, readymade and general goods are located in this area.

Begum Bazaar, now known mainly for brassware shops was one time a large commodities center. Osmanganj is a thriving wholesale market.

Close by is Mozaam Jahi Market with its fruit vendors, and Sabzi Mandi, the vegetable market. Charminar-Patthargatti-Lad Bazaar is the oldest commercial area in the twin cities and a traditional seat for silversmiths and pearl dealers. This is also the largest and the best area for Zardozi (gold-silver thread and sequin work on fine cloth). Mahatma Gandhi Road - General Bazaar - Rashtrapathi Road is the major shopping district in Secunderabad.

The M.G.Road complex has several new, trendy apparel show rooms, boutiques and gift emporia. Connecting R.P.Road and M.G. Road is the General Bazaar lanes with shops selling imitation jewellery stores, stationery and paper and shops selling tailoring materials, wool and threads. Off to the east of R.P.Road is Market Street, the heart of which is the teeming, noisy but colorful Monda Market, the biggest vegetable market in the city. Narayanguda-Chikkadpally area comprises a long stretch lined on either side with shops and commercial enterprises. Secretariat Road-Khairatabad is another interesting shopping area with a variety of shops, mainly textile showrooms. Sultan Bazaar-Koti-Troop Bazaar is a colorful and extremely busy commercial center with heavy traffic throughout the day-- from large modern showrooms to pushcarts on the streets selling wares ranging from vegetables and sweets to silks and shoes.

Hyderabad Tourism Statistics
Hyderabad is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Deccan region of the country. Located on the banks of River Musi, this capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh, commonly known as the City of Pearls, offers several attractions for the tourists, who gather here from all parts of the globe. It has heritage buildings, parks, lakes, gardens, resorts, museums, shopping malls and much more to amuse a wandering traveler. The delectable cuisine and the warm cordiality of the locals make Hyderabad a must-visit. The city, along with its twin, Secunderabad, has a perfect conglomeration of rich cultural heritage, a panoramic past that is almost 400 years old, and a galore of all the modern amenities needed for a memorable vacation.

Best time to visit
October to March is the most suitable time to visit the city because of the pleasant weather. Being in the Deccan region in India, the city has a dry tropical climate, resulting in summers that are hot and humid, and winters that are cool and dry. October to March is the time when the winter chills slowly replace the heavy rains of the monsoons dominating from June to September. These months experience little or no rains, the temperature fluctuating between 26 degrees Celsius and 32 degrees Celsius. Summers, which start after March and continue till June, while not as hot as in certain other parts of the country, can be quite uncomfortable for tourism.

Local Transport
Hyderabad has easy means of commuting within the city. The state buses from APSRTC are available, and one may also opt for AC buses for extra comfort. The fares are within the reach of common man. Private buses are another option for transport within the city. The other easiest means of transport are the auto-rickshaws, found in abundance all across the city. One can reserve the auto or may choose to go by the meter. Taxis are also easily available on hire; however, one needs to give a call to the centralized call centre to book their services. For families, taxis are the safest and most comfortable option. Local train, popularly known as the MMTS, is another mode of transport. There are several car rental services which provide cars of choice to the tourists for a whole day.

Hotels and Accommodation
There is a wide range of accommodation options to suit the needs of every kind of traveller. Whether it is the executive or business traveller or backpackers, suitable pocket-friendly accommodation is available for the visitors to this city. Hyderabad has 5- Star hotels like the TajKrishna, ITC Kakatiya Sheraton & Towers, Hotel Taj Banjara, Taj Residency, Viceroy Hotel & Convention Centre, Hotel Manohar, Hotel Sitara among others.

Food
Hyderabadi food is delectable and well appreciated by every food lover. The cuisine consists of vegetables of different types, nurtured with several spices and meat like mutton and chicken. The bread basket comprises roti, naan, kulcha, and paratha. Rice, which is the staple food, is prepared in form of biryani, which has several variants like kachche gosht, zafrani, and special Hyderabadi biryani. Side dishes like murgi ka korma, Hyderabadi keema, pathar ka gosht, dum ka keema, rezalas, dopiyazas and kormas of meat are preferred by the non-vegetarians. Among the vegetable platters, one may choose tamateki kut, churri, dalcha, baghara baingan, kubuli, mirch ka salan, and many more. Haleem, one of the trademark dishes of the Muslims, is prepared in abundance in the city. The cuisine can never be complete without desserts and Hyderabad is not behind in that. One may try the qubani ka meetha, gil-e-firdaus, badam ki jhab, sheer korma, gajar ka halwa, mauz ka meetha, and the famous firni. Some of the well known eateries in the city are: Alpha, Angeethi, Kabura, Bombay Palace, Moksh, Arena, Hall of Fame, Utsav, Tulips, Golden Dragon, Zafraan Exotica, Tex Mex, and many more.

Popular Destinations
Hyderabad has many destinations for sightseeing. The old city has Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Golconda Fort, Falaknama forts, Qutub Shah Tombs, Maula Ali Dargah, Purani Haveli, Osmania Arts College, Salar Jung Museum, etc. In the new city are Birla Mandir, Kala Bhawan, Nehru Zoological Park, High Court, State Gallery of Art, Alankrita Art Gallery, Le Cafe de Art, etc. Hyderabad has an array of temples and mosques. The Chiklur Balaji Temple, ISKCON Temple, Ashtalaxmi Temple, and the Mahakali Temple are among the temples, whereas the Charminar Masjid, Toli Masjid, Jama Masjid and Badshahi Masjid are the famous mosques. One may find a few churches here as well: St Jospeh's Cathedral and the St. George Church are quite well known. There are several lakes and parks that adorn the city from all sides, such as the Hussain Sagar Lake, Osman Lake, Saroornagar Lake and Indira Park, public gardens, Lumbini Park, Botanical Garden, etc.

Travel Tips
There are a few things travelers must remember. The language in the city is mainly Telugu, which is a problem for the domestic as well as the foreign travelers. People here, however, do understand English, especially in the urban areas. Domestic travelers may get along in Hindi, which is moderately used in the city. During travel in the city, one must beware of the local auto-rickshaw drivers, as they are prone to rash driving. They also have other ways to make money from the travelers; for example, they often get commission for dropping a tourist to the pearl shops, even if the traveler doesn't purchase anything. Sometimes, they also get handsome commission for dropping them to heritage palaces. One must also be careful during purchasing precious stones and pearls, as there are various con men selling fake ones. Tourists should buy only from authorized dealers.

Cost of Travel

Hyderabad is among the cheapest Indian cities when it comes to travel. Unless one intends to spend a lavish vacation, a moderate budget of Rs. 30,000-40,000 will be sufficient for a couple to stay in the city for 7-10 days. Two-way train fare will not be more than Rs. 3,000-4,000, even for air-conditioned coaches. If someone opts for a mid-range or budget accommodation with a tariff of Rs. 2,000-2,500 per night, a complete 7-8 days of stay will not cost more than 14,000-20,000 for two. Food is quite economical in the city, especially the street food. Even three meals a day in eateries will not cost more than Rs. 10,000 for two. Sightseeing too is affordable and will not exceed Rs. 5,000 for the most important landmarks. Tourists can also contact tour operators, who offer still more economical package deals.

How Many Days are Enough to Travel
For most tourists, the city can be well explored within 7-10 days of stay. Although one can plan one's own schedule for maximum flexibility, packages offered by tour operators are recommended.